Security front and centre as France goes to polls

And while the party leaders cast their ballots, French police were taking no chances as they attended to a security threat at the the Louvre in Paris, evacuating much of the outside courtyard area.

The museum is set to be the venue for the En Marche! victory party if Emmanuel Macron triumphs in today’s vote.

The centrist candidate voted in his home town of Le Touquet in northern France, alongside his wife Brigitte.

Marine Le Pen cast her vote in the former coalmining town – and National Front stronghold – of Henin-Beaumont, also in the north of France.

Video:Macron and Le Pen cast their votes

Outgoing President Francois Hollande, who cast his vote in the central town of Tulle, said: “Today is an important day because it is about not taking the wrong road.”

The turnout for the election was confirmed to be just over 28 percent by midday.

Amid increased security people will make their choices after a second round campaign which pitted far-right Ms Le Pen against centrist newcomer Mr Macron with radically different visions on Europe, the economy, immigration and identity in France.

Many in France have seen this election as a test of voters’ anger with the political establishment.

Close to 47 million people are eligible to vote in the election, with 1.3 million of them living abroad.

The result will be as keenly watched internationally as in France to see what extent the populist tide which delivered Brexit to the UK and Donald Trump to America is still at play.

Polls opened at 8am in France (7am UK time) and remain open until 7pm in most areas and 8pm in some major cities, including Paris.

Video:What do we know about Marine Le Pen?

Some French mayors have struggled to find enough people to tally votes.

Counters usually come from the major parties in France – the Socialists and Republicans – but with both parties knocked out of the race, in some areas city officials have had to be hired to do the job.

Surveys suggest many voters plan to abstain, not finding either remaining candidate acceptable after their party was ejected from the race.

Abstentions are expected to hit a record level for a presidential contest which usually attracts high turnout in France.